Chelsea vow to take ‘strongest possible action’ after video shows Blues fan allegedly using sectarian slurs towards Aston Villa’s Scottish star John McGinn
- Chelsea launched an investigation into one of their fans using sectarian slurs
- A video showed a Blues fan aiming the slurs towards Aston Villa’s John McGinn
- The incident took place in the first-half of Saturday’s Premier League fixture
- The west London club say they will take the ‘strongest possible action’
- Aston Villa have thanked Chelsea for condemning the alleged abuse last week
Chelsea have pledged to take the ‘strongest possible action’ after a video circulated on social media of a spectator allegedly using ‘abusive language of a sectarian nature’ towards Aston Villa’s John McGinn.
The Blues have launched an investigation into abuse appearing to be directed at Scotland midfielder McGinn, during the Blues’ 3-0 Premier League win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The London club have appealed for help in identifying the alleged culprit from Saturday’s match, with Villa saying they are ‘grateful’ for the west Londoners for launching the investigation.
During the first-half of the Stamford Bridge, McGinn went over to take a corner next to a section of Chelsea supporters, where the sectarian slur was allegedly made.
Chelsea have vowed to take the ‘strongest possible action’ after a fan allegedly used ‘abusive language of a sectarian nature’ towards Aston Villa’s John McGinn (above) on Saturday
A video on social media this week showed a Chelsea fan allegedly abusing Villa’s McGinn
One fan was allegedly heard saying: ‘You f***ing Fenian b******. McGinn you dirty c***. F*** off. You f***ing w*****. We are the people. F*** off.’
The Fenian reference relates to the 19th-century revolutionary nationalist organisation Irish Republic Brotherhood, who made isolated revolutionary acts against the British until the early 20th century, when they were eclipsed by the IRA.
Scottish international midfielder McGinn is a boyhood fan of Scottish giants Celtic, whose supporters have been investigated by UEFA for pro-IRA chants in the past.
‘We are the people’ is also a common saying and chant among Celtic’s arch-rivals Rangers.
McGinn (right) is a boyhood Celtic fan and started in the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday
‘We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing an individual using abusive language of a sectarian nature in the crowd at Stamford Bridge on Saturday,’ a Chelsea statement read on Monday.
‘Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour totally unacceptable and we condemn the language used. The club is working to identify the person involved and will take the strongest possible action against them.
‘Any supporter who was present in that area of the ground and has information that can assist the club’s investigation should contact the club via our discrimination reporting line
Chelsea have launched an investigation into the incident, which Villa have thanked them for
Villa thanked Chelsea for acting on the incident in a statement of their own on Monday evening.
‘Aston Villa are grateful to our friends at Chelsea FC for their swift and decisive action in both condemning the bigotry aimed at John McGinn at Stamford Bridge and in launching an investigation to identify the culprit,’ the Midlands club’s statement read.
‘Aston Villa will fully support that investigation. Both clubs have zero tolerance for the scourge of discrimination in any form when it occurs in our stadia.’
The hosts won thanks to two goals from Romelu Lukaku and one from Mateo Kovacic, to move Chelsea level on points with Manchester United and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.